"Evan Almighty"
Rated PG
Now playing
** 1/2

THE STORY: News broadcaster-turned-legislator Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) has it made. He’s just moved with his family to a sparkling new mansion and bought a Hummer to match. He’s a rising star in Congress and has been asked to co-sponsor a significant piece of legislation.

(Photo: Evan, left, played by Carell, has to complete a mighty big task for God, played by Morgan Freeman. Credit: Ralph Nelson -- Universal Pictures.)

On his first night in his new house, Evan prays for the chance to “change the world,” but God’s assignment — to build an ark in preparation for an upcoming flood — isn’t quite what he bargained for. Chaos, hilarity and a sequence of completely predictable events ensue.

THE GOOD: Carell is in fine form here, and his hapless, self-absorbed demeanor as Evan proves surprisingly transferable from his work on TV’s “The Office.” Wanda Sykes is also genuinely funny as his cynical assistant Rita, delivering a barrage of one-liners with acerbic wit and perfect comedic timing.

The sequences of the giant ark, filled to the brim with people and animals, being tossed and turned upon the raging floodwaters of Washington, D.C., are visually stunning – almost as impressive as the sight of a long-bearded Carell in full biblical regalia.

THE BAD: The relationship between Evan and his wife, Joan (Lauren Graham), is unconvincing. Their utter lack of chemistry doesn’t help us believe that Evan wants to spend more time with his family, or that Joan wants to rejoin him after packing up and leaving, convinced that he has gone insane. The mostly uninspired script fails to showcase Graham’s talents, as well as those of Freeman (who also played God in the film’s 2003 prequel, “Bruce Almighty”). As a result, they’re often awkward to watch, making you wish heartily that they just had more interesting things to say. 

The movie’s basic message — appreciate nature, spend time with your family and be nice to others — is clearly supposed to be inspiring, but it’s nothing the average moviegoer hasn’t been exposed to over and over. It would almost be forgivable if God hadn’t cheerily pointed out that the word ark is an acronym for “act of random kindness.”

A final warning: Where there are animals, there are bound to be potty jokes, and “Evan Almighty” exploits these ruthlessly.

THE BOTTOM LINE: This movie is probably skippable unless you’re a Steve Carell devotee, easily amused and/or younger than 12.

-- Alina Xu, Mission San Jose High, Fremont